Title
Enhanced Bike Lanes
Recommended Action
Information only. No action requested.
Report
Issue:
Briefing on the Enhanced Bike Lanes
Staff Contact:
Joey Jones, P.E., Project Engineer II, Public Works | Transportation, 360.753.8307
Presenter(s):
Joey Jones
Background and Analysis:
Increasingly, cities nation-wide are adding enhanced bike lanes to their streets to create more comfortable bicycling conditions. Enhanced bike lanes are a type of bike lane that provide greater separation between bicyclists and vehicle traffic, beyond that of a traditional five-foot bike lane. An enhanced bike lane typically means there is a minimum of a 2-foot buffer between the bike lane and vehicle lanes. There are many variations on this design. At the meeting, staff will share the range of enhanced bike lanes that can be designed for our streets.
The City’s Transportation Master Plan describes a “low stress bicycle network.” This network is intended to serve people biking of a wide range of age and ability. The network is made up of bike corridors on smaller streets, enhanced bike lanes on major streets, as well as pathways and trails.
In 2022, as part of an annual update process to the Engineering Design and Development Standards (EDDS), staff has proposed adding design standards for enhanced bike lanes. Enhanced bike lanes are not currently in the EDDS. This update will help guide infrastructure projects built by the City as well as improvements built by private developers as part of their required frontage improvements.
Options:
None. Information only.
Financial Impact:
Enhanced bike lanes require more width to build, so there may be increased costs when street improvements include enhanced bike lanes.
Attachments:
None